#buari

50 years in 2025

Buari - Karam Bani from: Buari - Karam Bani 7" (RCA Victor, 1975)

Buari

Buari

@ 1975 US Pressing

*****

A surefire Afro-Funk classic, long treasured by collectors across the globe, the fantastic self-titled LP from Ghanaian singing/percussion sensation Sidiku Buari nevertheless remains a criminally hard-to find gem. 

Originally released on RCA in 1975, this is, quite simply, a ridiculous record. This super-rare album boasts an all-star cast of top funk instrumentalists playing alongside Buari as he blends heavy African rhythms with American soul-funk grooves. The arrangements and the playing are incredibly tight and the album is stacked with killer tracks including "Advice From Father" (sampled brilliantly by Kenny Dope) and "Ku Ka Maria", with its intense, neck-snapping breaks and funky drumming from legend Bernard 'Pretty' Purdie. Purdie is in the pocket for the entirety of this stunning LP - the drumming is just straight out of hand; so varied yet so precise.

Years ago it was reported Charles would change his name when he became King. That's been scrapped innit! The new king is King Charles III, god save the king! of course we're all wondering how this sequel will compare to the other King Charlies, his first few days show a man prone to tantrums, far from gracious. We beheaded the first King Charles and regrettably, we got the throne out of storage and welcomed the second one back. Charles II is notable for many things but as I'm looking at music from Africa it's the Royal Africa Company set up at the time of Charles II's reign in 1660 that I want to highlight. At its inception the Royal Africa Company (RAC) was led by Charles' brother the Duke Of York (who would become the future James II “The Catholic King” who we kicked out in 1688.) Here's the quote "The RAC shipped more African slaves to the Americas than any other company in the history of the Atlantic Slave Trade, and was owned entirely by the British Crown." The royal family have never apologised 

With the Gold Coast's independence in 1957 the new republic chose a new nam Ghana. It was the first sub-saharan colony to gain independence. President Kwame Nkrumah who he'd led the fight was a Pan-African nationalist who saw Ghana’s independence as crucial for the entire continent of Africa. More than 30 African countries followed suit and declared independence over the next decade. "Ghana’s flag incorporates the Pan-African colours of red, yellow, green and black to represent political unity between all those who live in Africa, and features the black star as a symbol of Ghana’s new freedom"

1982 and military officer Jerry Rawlings had just taken back control of the Ghana as chairman of the Provisional National Defence Council, he would keep that control for 20-years

Gyedu Blay Ambolley - Highlife. This is from the album Ambolley which has been reissued by Mr Bongo https://mrbongo.bandcamp.com/track/highlife

Sidiku Buari And His Jam Busters - Karambani. From the "Jam Busters" album. Buari had been making great afro-funk and disco since the mid 70s, here he ventures into boogie space. BBE packaged this with the following album, 1983s electronic album Feelings https://bbemusic.bandcamp.com/album/feelings-sidiku-buari-and-his-jam-busters